Towns devastated in Philippine typhoon are now being rebuilt with machines mobilized by Volvo CE

One of the greatest challenges facing the Philippine government in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan – which devastated the Eastern Visayas region of the country in November 2013 – is rebuilding the homes that were lost during one of the worst storms ever recorded. The area affected is unfathomably large and millions of families have been displaced or even left homeless.

The Governor of the Province of Leyte, Leopoldo Dominico Petilla, made a recent appeal for help in the recovery and restoration efforts following the typhoon, so Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) and its Philippine dealer Civic Merchandising Inc. have mobilized 14 of its machines for immediate use. The fleet, including 10 brand new EC210 B-Series excavators, will be put to work to remove debris and rebuild the islands of Leyte and nearby Samar – two of the worst affected areas. In the longer term, the machines will be used in site preparation and housing projects in Leyte’s capital, Tacloban City.

Volvo CE President, Sales Region APAC, Vincent Tan says: “We feel it is our duty to contribute to the relief effort in the Philippines when our products can in a small way help communities to rebuild their lives after this tragedy.”

Anthony L Ngo, President of Civic Merchandising Inc., says: “It’s heart-warming to see the global community come together to help the Philippines in this unprecedented natural disaster. Not only countries but also multinational companies – such as Volvo. We are forever grateful for this act of kindness.”

And the machines are not the only way Volvo has helped to alleviate suffering in the Philippines. The Volvo Group donated 7.5 million SEK (1.13 million USD) on behalf of its employees to support Oxfam’s emergency response in providing life-saving clean water and sanitation to people in need.